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Get Your Body Ready for Spring

By Paige Waehner, About.com

Updated: March 19, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

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Increase Flexibility and Core Strength

One thing I notice about winter is how much time I spend sitting on my butt. When it's cold, many of us watch more TV, leave the house less and generally work on creating a nice comfy butt-dent in the couch. The problem with that, aside from gaining weight, is a loss of flexibility. It's easy for muscles to get tight with too much sitting and not enough moving, so don't neglect your flexibility program as you get ready for warm weather.

You also want to make sure your core is strong. So many outdoor activities (and indoor as well) require lots of strength in the abs and back and, if you've been sitting as much as I have, you may have lost a little strength in that area.

These resources offer a variety workouts and ideas to build flexibility and core strength. Flexibility exercises can be done as often as you like and are a great way to wake up the body in the morning, cool down after a workout and relax before bed. It's also a great idea to stretch throughout the day, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting.

You should also visit our Pilates and Yoga sites for more great information about strengthening the core and stretching the body.

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